Latest news with #GreatLakesChampionship
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Epson Tour's best coming to The Highlands for inaugural Great Lakes Championship
HARBOR SPRINGS — Northern Michigan in the summer transforms into a golfer's paradise. Well, summer feels like it's arrived and come this Friday to Sunday, June 13-15, some of the best women's golfers in the world will hope to turn The Highlands of Harbor Springs Heather Course into paradise. Advertisement The inaugural Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker and part of the Epson Tour will tee off this weekend on The Heather Course. The Epson Tour, once know as the LPGA Futures Tour, is the official qualifying tour for the LPGA Tour, much like the Korn Ferry Tour for the PGA. Events are taking place throughout the week by BOYNE Golf and The Great Lakes Sports Commission, including a pair of Pro-Am events on Wednesday and Thursday, June 11-12. Epson Tour No. 4 ranked Yana Wilson is one of a handful of top ranked golfers that will take to The Highlands at Harbor Springs' Heather Course this Friday to Sunday, June 13-15 for the inaugural Great Lakes Championship. (Photo by) 'The Highlands and BOYNE Golf are honored and excited that the Great Lakes Sports Commission and the Epson Tour have selected The Heather golf course at The Highlands to host the Great Lakes Championship,' said Josh Richter, Boyne Resorts SVP of golf. 'The Heather was the first BOYNE Golf course and is widely credited as the spark that started the golf boom in northern Michigan. Advertisement "The Heather launched the region as America's summer golf capital and has hosted many prestigious championships, including five Michigan Amateur Championships since it opened in 1966. We look forward to the test it will provide the outstanding golfers on the Epson Tour on their journey to the LPGA.' From Epson to LPGA: Here are 15 of the most successful LPGA players to graduate from the Epson Tour since 1999, including two Hall of Famers Play will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Great Lakes Championship will feature a field of 144 golfers competing for Epson points of course, though also a $250,000 purse and $37,500 to the winner. Advertisement The field will be cut from 144 to 60 on Sunday, with a 5 p.m. awards ceremony and trophy presentation taking place. General admission is free to attend the 72-hole tournament, though there is a VIP ticket package available at $100 per day or $250 for the full weekend. Slots for the Pro-Am event are full. More: Michigan's best 20 public golf courses rankings: Arcadia Bluffs remains No. 1 More: Best Michigan private golf courses ranked: Alister MacKenzie gem still No. 1 It comes as the third Epson Tour event taking place in Michigan, following the recent FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creak, along with the Island Resort Championship in Harris to follow, with the three making up the new Pure Michigan Cup. Advertisement The highest points earner within the three events receives extra prize money from the Epson Tour. 'Bringing the Epson Tour to The Heather Golf Course at The Highlands at Harbor Springs will have a big impact on the Petoskey area and the northern Michigan region,' said Great Lakes Sports Commission Executive Director, Eric Marvin. 'The expansion of the Tour's Michigan stretch will not only showcase the unparalleled beauty and unique charm of northern Michigan but also promises to create significant economic impact and international exposure. We are confident that adding another high-profile Epson Tour event will enhance our reputation as a premier destination for golf and we look forward to welcoming the world's top women's golfers to northern Michigan in 2025.' Sophia Schubert of the Epson Tour highlights a talented field that'll be on hand this weekend in Harbor Springs when golfers tee off in the inaugural Great Lakes Championship on BOYNE Golf's Heather Course. (Photo by) The inaugural field of the Great Lakes Championship will feature many of the top Epson Tour's current top points leaders, including the top five. Advertisement Current No. 1 with 1,176 points, Gina Kim, will be included in the field, with two wins to her credit already this season. The field will also include second ranked Sophia Schubert and third ranked Laetitia Beck, both with over $200,000 in career earnings. Yana Wilson, an 18-year-old with four career top 10 finishes and a May victory to her credit, will also be in the field, along with No. 5 ranked Minji Kang, who currently leads the Epson Tour with five top 10 finishes in eight events. All-Americans: Golfweek's 2024-25 Women's College Golf All-Americans Michigan natives will also take part in tournament, including BOYNE Golf ambassador and East Kentwood graduate, Sarah White. With an average driving distance of 270.48 yards, White is currently the Epson Tour leader. Advertisement The former Western Michigan and Texas State golfer earned a 2014 MHSAA Division 1 state championship at East Kentwood and has been with the Epson Tour since 2020. Many of the current top golfers of the LPGA Tour have made their way to the top ranks through the Epson Tour, including current LPGA No. 1, Nelly Korda. Korda has 15 career wins and over $15 million in career earnings. LPGA standouts Inbee Park and Lorena Ochoa are also former Epson Tour competitors, among others. More information on the Great Lakes Championship can be found at: Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Epson Great Lakes Championship teeing off Friday in Harbor Springs
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harbor Light's Hanes rises to the challenge of top 10 golf finals finish
BIG RAPIDS — Making any division of the MHSAA golf state championships is a challenge. That becomes increasingly true when you don't have a team to qualify under and have to make your way through in the tight individual qualifier field. Advertisement Ben Hanes of Harbor Light Christian did that. Making top 10 at the state championships is then another big challenge to overcome. But, Hanes was up for that one too. The Swordsmen senior capped his season and career with a 10th place finish in the Division 4 boys golf championships at Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids over the weekend. Harbor Light Christian senior Ben Hanes (back row, closest right) stands with the top 10 finishers at the Division 4 golf state championships on Saturday, June 7. Hanes qualified for the finals as an individual. Hanes recorded an 80 on the opening day, then shot 78 on day two for a 158 total. The finish came out of more than 100 golfers in the field. Epson Tour Coming: Epson Tour's best coming to The Highlands for inaugural Great Lakes Championship Clarkston Everest Collegiate earned the team state championship behind a 314-317—631, which was 19 strokes better than Grandville Calvin Christian's runner-up finish. Advertisement Maple City Glen Lake's Michael Houtteman represented Northern Michigan well and earned the Division 4 state championship from an individual standpoint, finishing with a 70-68– 138. East Jordan's Scott Lyons also qualified for the state championships as a junior, recording an 88-82–170, which placed him 36th overall in the field. Petoskey's Janes: Haden Janes leaves Petoskey career with the good feeling of no regrets Petoskey's Wilson: Petoskey's Joel Wilson named OTA standout by Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson While they qualified as a team, Gaylord St. Mary didn't have enough scores to finish that way over the weekend. Sophomore George Mertz did place 19th with an 80-83— 163. Advertisement In Division 2, Gaylord's Marshall Krajniak also shot 85-79—164 to place 62nd at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek. Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Harbor Lights Hanes finishes golf career at D4 state finals
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Epson Tour heads to new territory in Michigan this week
Epson Tour heads to new territory in Michigan this week HARBOR SPRINGS, Michigan — Northern Michigan in the summer transforms into a golfer's paradise. Well, summer feels like it's arrived, and come this Friday to Sunday, June 13-15, some of the best women's golfers in the world will hope to turn The Highlands of Harbor Springs Heather Course into paradise. The inaugural Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker and part of the Epson Tour will tee off this weekend on The Heather Course. The Epson Tour, once known as the LPGA Futures Tour, is the official qualifying tour for the LPGA Tour, much like the Korn Ferry Tour for the PGA. Events are taking place throughout the week by BOYNE Golf and The Great Lakes Sports Commission, including a pair of Pro-Am events on Wednesday and Thursday, June 11-12. 'The Highlands and BOYNE Golf are honored and excited that the Great Lakes Sports Commission and the Epson Tour have selected The Heather golf course at The Highlands to host the Great Lakes Championship,' said Josh Richter, Boyne Resorts' SVP of golf. 'The Heather was the first BOYNE Golf course and is widely credited as the spark that started the golf boom in northern Michigan. "The Heather launched the region as America's summer golf capital and has hosted many prestigious championships, including five Michigan Amateur Championships since it opened in 1966. We look forward to the test it will provide the outstanding golfers on the Epson Tour on their journey to the LPGA.' From Epson to LPGA: Here are 15 of the most successful LPGA players to graduate from the Epson Tour since 1999, including two Hall of Famers Play will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Great Lakes Championship will feature a field of 144 golfers competing for Epson points, of course, as well as a $250,000 purse, of which $37,500 goes to the winner. The field will be cut from 144 to 60 on Sunday, with a 5 p.m. awards ceremony and trophy presentation taking place. General admission is free to attend the 72-hole tournament, though there is a VIP ticket package available at $100 per day or $250 for the full weekend. Slots for the Pro-Am event are full. More: Michigan's best 20 public golf courses rankings: Arcadia Bluffs remains No. 1 More: Best Michigan private golf courses ranked: Alister MacKenzie gem still No. 1 It comes as the third Epson Tour event taking place in Michigan, following the recent FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, along with the Island Resort Championship in Harris to follow, with the three making up the new Pure Michigan Cup. The highest points earner within the three events receives extra prize money from the Epson Tour. 'Bringing the Epson Tour to The Heather Golf Course at The Highlands at Harbor Springs will have a big impact on the Petoskey area and the northern Michigan region,' said Great Lakes Sports Commission Executive Director, Eric Marvin. 'The expansion of the Tour's Michigan stretch will not only showcase the unparalleled beauty and unique charm of northern Michigan but also promises to create significant economic impact and international exposure. We are confident that adding another high-profile Epson Tour event will enhance our reputation as a premier destination for golf and we look forward to welcoming the world's top women's golfers to northern Michigan in 2025.' The inaugural field of the Great Lakes Championship will feature many of the top Epson Tour's current top points leaders, including the top five. Current No. 1 with 1,176 points, Gina Kim, will be included in the field, with two wins to her credit already this season. The field will also include second ranked Sophia Schubert and third ranked Laetitia Beck, both with over $200,000 in career earnings. Yana Wilson, an 18-year-old with four career top 10 finishes and a May victory to her credit, will also be in the field, along with No. 5 ranked Minji Kang, who currently leads the Epson Tour with five top 10 finishes in eight events. All-Americans: Golfweek's 2024-25 Women's College Golf All-Americans Michigan natives will also take part in tournament, including BOYNE Golf ambassador and East Kentwood graduate, Sarah White. With an average driving distance of 270.48 yards, White is currently the Epson Tour leader. The former Western Michigan and Texas State golfer earned a 2014 MHSAA Division 1 state championship at East Kentwood and has been with the Epson Tour since 2020. Many of the current top golfers of the LPGA Tour have made their way to the top ranks through the Epson Tour, including current LPGA No. 1, Nelly Korda. Korda has 15 career wins and over $15 million in career earnings. LPGA standouts Inbee Park and Lorena Ochoa are also former Epson Tour competitors, among others. More information on the Great Lakes Championship can be found at: Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
First-time Epson Tour winner crowned at 2025 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship
BATTLE CREEK — Battle Creek is the place where champions are born. For the fifth straight year, a first-time winner was crowned at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. Samantha Wagner rallied in the final round to win the 2025 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club on Sunday, June 8. Advertisement When the final round of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship began, Wagner was two shots back of the 36-hole leaders, Yana Wilson and Samantha Vodry. By the end of the day, she was two shots clear of Sophia Schubert and hoisting her first Epson Tour trophy on the 18th green with a final round of 65 and a three-day total of 13-under par 203. Wagner played at the University of Florida and has been on the Epson Tour since 2018. MORE: Battle Creek's Gibson will golf against pros at a course her grandpa wasn't allowed to play Samantha Wagner won the 2025 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at the Battle Creek Country Club on Sunday, June 8. For the majority of the day, it was anyone's tournament to win, but Wagner was the one who took it and ran. Advertisement At the turn, Wagner was in the hunt, but not in control of the lead. A disappointing par on the par-5 10th was followed by another par on the 11th. The 12th hole was when everything started to click for the 28-year-old, making her first birdie of the back nine. She followed it up with three more birdies, making it four in a row before a par on the difficult par-3 16th broke the streak. At this point, Wagner held the solo lead, chasing down the clubhouse lead at 11-under set by Sophia Schubert. One more birdie came on 17, extending her lead to two coming down 18. It was business as usual for Wagner, hitting the fairway and then a green in regulation. A two- the two-shot victory for her first win on the Epson Tour. 'It's finally sinking in; this is awesome,' said Wagner after her win. 'I think for me, a lot of it was taking a step back and really trying not to think about winning and just really focusing on my process. I've been told by many people that if I keep doing that, eventually it'll pay off, so I really just had to lean in and trust that. It's been a long time, so it's nice to see that finally come through. It just feels great moving forward.' The Epson Tour heads to Harbor Springs, Michigan, next week for the inaugural playing of the Great Lakes Championship. Tournament play will begin June 13. Advertisement Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@ Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick. This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Samantha Wagner wins 2025 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championships
